Test hopefuls show up for Blues

Updated
Thu 24 Jan 2013, 6:57 PM AEDT

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Staking a claim ... Moises Henriques claimed a late wicket just a day after playing for Australia in the fifth ODI.

Mark Nolan: Getty Images

New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques and spinner Stephen O'Keefe offered selectors a gentle reminder of their Test prospects as they restricted Western Australia to 9 for 232 by stumps on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.

O'Keefe's decision to send the bottom-placed Warriors in on a sticky Blacktown wicket looked like backfiring early as Liam Davis (39) and Marcus Harris (25) put on 62 for the first wicket.

But the 28-year-old skipper took matters into his own hands, dismissing both openers on his way to figures of 3 for 52 from 28 overs for the day, while Henriques also chimed in with a late cameo as honours were shared on day one.

Both have just three more days to push their cases for inclusion in Australia's four-Test tour of India, and they will have to do it against a Warriors outfit desperately fighting to get off the bottom of the Shield ladder.

Henriques claimed just the one wicket but his efforts were made all the more impressive when combined with his travel schedule on the day.

The 25-year-old boarded an early flight from Hobart after taking three wickets for Australia in Wednesday night's ODI victory over Sri Lanka and, after an hour-long drive from the airport, didn't arrive at the ground until after the lunch break.

He eventually took to the field during the drinks break at 2:00pm (AEDT) and bowled nine economical overs, while trapping dangerous lower-order hitter Nathan Coulter-Nile lbw for 8.

With Shane Watson deciding his body is unable to withstand the rigours of bowling, the Test all-rounder spot has suddenly opened up, with Henriques and offspinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell looming as the main contenders to fill it.

One man no longer pushing for Test selection is the recently-retired Michael Hussey, who ended his international career in front of a full SCG earlier this month.

It was a far different sight at Blacktown, where the 37-year-old scored 29 before falling victim to Chris Tremain (1 for 35) during a period in which the visitors lost 3-37 after lunch to slump to 5 for 128.